Lettering device



Oct. 17, 1933. w mc s r AL 1,931,358

LETTERING DEV I CE Filed Jan. 8, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l Oct 1933- L. w. RICHARDS ET AL LETTERING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 m 2 WM 3 T a w 1 11 m6 Filed Jan. 8, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 3mm Leslie Wfiz'charda Eldred T3 97 LETTERING DEVICE Filed 1932 L. w. RICHARDS ET AL Oct 1933.

Patented Oct. 17, 1933 UNITED s'rpxras LETTERING DEVICE Leslie W. Richards and Eldred Tarry,

- St. Louis, Mo.

Application January 8, 1932. SerialNo. 585,577

Claims.

This invention relates to a lettering device for plastic material bodies, such as concrete, cast stone, cement, .plaster'or for any material for which it may be found applicable, and the in- 5 vention has for its object to provide, in a manner' as hereinafter set forth, a device of the class referred to so constructed and arranged to provide for efficiently and expeditiously lettering a body of plastic material when desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of the class referred to including letter forming elements and means for taking up all slack between said elements and to centralize and clamp the latter together.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device for the purpose referred to which is comparatively simple inits construction and arrangement, strong, durable,v compact, readily assembled and disassembled when occasion requires, thoroughly efficient in its use, conveniently manipulated, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture. d

To the above ends essentially and others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of such parts, and such combination of parts claimed. d

In the drawings u v 1 Figure 1 is a top plan view of a lettering device, in accordance with this invention assembled for lettering a plastic body. I,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the lettering section with the letter forming elements removed. Figure 3 is ,a section on line 3-,-3 Figure 1. Figure 4 is a sectionon line 44 Figure 1 Figure5 is a perspective view of a letter'forming element. 4 The device includes a lettering section anda mold section referred to generally as;1, 2, the latter being superposed with respect tothe for.-

mer. l The section 1 comprises a pair of oppositely disposed outer holder parts 3, 4 and an intermediate holder part 5 which is common to said parts 3, 4. The parts 3, 4 and 5am arranged in spacedrelation to provide spaces 6, 7 for a purpose to be referred to. t

Each outer part is formed with a segmental outer portion 8 and an inner portion 9, the latter being oblong and abutting the ends of and extended laterallyfrom the portion 8 as at 10, 11. The ends'of portion 9 have transverse openwhich fall within the scope of the inventionas ings 12. Each outer part has an upstanding, lengthwise extending, tapered rib 13 arranged at the inner sideof portion 8 and of less length than that of the latter. The curved portion 8 has its upper face formed with a cavity 14, having one side wall provided by rib 13. The walls of the cavity 14 are beveled, and one wall thereof is provided byone side of rib 13. v

The inner side of part 4 below rib 13 is formed with perpendicular, lengthwise extending shoul ders 15, 16 and 17 arranged one abovethe other and are disposed in spaced parallel planes. The inner side of part 4 is also formed with lengthwise extending lateral seats18, 18 arranged in a step like manner and is also provided with an abutment 19 arranged. below and parallel to seat 18, the latter in connection with the abutment 19 provides a combined guide and retainer rib 20 for a purpose to be presently referred to. The inner side of portion 3 below rib 12 is formed with perpendicular, lengthwise extending shoulders 21, 22 arranged one above the other and in spaced parallel planes. The inner side of part 3 is also formed with lengthwise extending lateral seats 23, 24 arranged in a step like manner. Each outer part has extended from the portion 8..at the'outer side, centrally thereofa lug 25 having a vertical opening 26 disposed at right angles to openings 12. The curved portion 8 of eachouter part conforms in contour to aside and the ends of section 2. i j d The intermediate part 5 is substantially oblong and provided intermediate the sides and ends of its" upper face with a lengthwise extending cavity 32, The bottom of the latter is designated' 27. The ends walls of cavity 32 are provided by'transve'rsely extendingbevels 27.. The side walls of cavity 32 are'provided by upstanding tapered ribs 28. arranged between and spaced from the bevels. -The part 5 in proximity to each end has a vertical opening 29. Projecting from each endof part 5 and arranged below the upper face thereof is-an extension 29 formed with a pair of'lateral lugs 30 providedwith horizontal openings 3l opposing the spaces 6, 7. The walls of openingsBl are threaded. One side of part 5 is provided with lengthwise extending perpendicular shoulders 33 and 34 arranged one above the other and in parallel spaced planes. The said side is also formed with lengthwise extending, lateral seats 35, 36 arranged in a step like manner. Theother side of part5 is formed with lengthwise extending perpendicular shoulders 37, 38 and 39 arranged one above the other and in parallel spaced planes, lengthwise extending lateral seats 40, 41 arranged in a step like manner and a lengthwise extending lateral abutment 42 arranged below and parallel to seat 41. The latter in connection with abutment 42 provides a combined guide and retainer rib 43 for a purpose to be referred to.

The side walls of space 6 are formed by the inner side or" part 3 and one side of part and the side walls of space '7 are formed by the inner side of part 4 and the other side of part 5.

' nally split to provide two oppositely disposed like parts 44, 45 each formed near its top with Each lug having an inclined horizontal opening. The side of each part of section 2, centrally thereof and at its bottom is formed with an outwardly directed lug 47 having a vertical opening.

Each part of section 21 has one end thereof at its" bottom provided with an outwardly directed lug 48 formed with a vertical opening. 7

The lettering section 1 also includes a set of interchangeable letter forming elements49, a set of spacer elements 50 and retainer elements 51.

Each of said elements includes a shank formed on on side face with a groove for the reception of a locking rib. The form of shank employed is as illustrated in Figure 5 in connection with an element 49. "The shank is indicated at 52 and the groove in one side face thereof at 53. groove is positioned between the horizontal medianand lower end of the shank. The elements 49, 50 and 51 are formed at the upper ends of their shanks with flat heads 54, 55 and 56 respectively. The upper'faces ofthe heads 55 and 56 are smooth throughout. The upper face of the head 54 of each letter forming element is provided centrally thereof with a letter former 57. Each retainer element 51 in proximity to its outer end has its shank 52 formed with a horizontal. slot 58. The heads of said elements are flush with the ends and extended laterally in both directions fromthe sides of the shanks.

The lugs 46 of part 44 of section 2 abut the lugs 46joi part 45 of section 2. Removable holdfast means 59 extend throughthe abutting lugs 46 for'detachably securing parts 44 and 45 together. The lugs 47 of parts 44 and 45 of section 2 seat upon the lugs 25 of section 1. Extending through lugs 25, 4'7 are removable holdfast means 60 for detachably anchoring'secticn 2 to and upon section 1. The lugs 48 of parts 44 and '45 oi section-2 seat upon the ends'of part 5 of section 1. Extending through lugs 48 and part 5 are removable holdfast means 61 for detachably anchoring section 2 to and upon section 1.-

Threadedly engaging with the walls of openings 3lof the lugs 30 are clamping screws 62.

The part 5 at each endis formed with a horizontalcpening 63 and which align with openings '12' in the parts'3,'4. The slots 58 of retaining elements 51 align with the openings 63. Extending through aligningopenings 12 and 63, as well as through slots 58 are headed bolts 64 carrying binding nuts 65. The parts 3, 4have de pending foot pieces 66 for maintaining section 1 in spaced relation with respect to a support therefor. v

The section 2 is'formed with an inset portion 67 of semicircular cross section. The sides and ends of parts 3, 4 will align with the sides and endsof section '2. The ends of section 2 extend across and seat upon part-5 adjacent theends of thelatter. The manner in which the device is used is as follows: parts 3, 4 and 5 are loosely assembled with the bolts 64 and screws 62 unscrewed to their fullestjextent. The formers 49 and spacer 50 are properly arranged and seated in. the openings or slots 6, 7 as .well' as mounted on the retainer ribs. The slotted retainers 51 are then positioned attheends of the lines formed by the elements 49 and 50; After both lines are set up the bolts 64 are tightened only sufiiciently to take up all clearance between the elements 49, 50 and 51 and the parts 3, 4 The section 2 is of skeleton form and diagoand 5. Then the screws 62 are tigh ened at: each end or" each line and act on elements 51 so as to centralize elements 49 and 50 and finally clamp the latter together. After the elements 45, 50 and 51 are tightly clamped horizontall the bolts 64 are finally tightened holding the ele ments 49, 50 and 51 rigidly in alignment. The parts 44 and 55 of mold section 2 are now bolted together and then in turn are bolted to'eection 1 when the device is complete and ready'for receiving the plastic material.

1. In a lettering device for plastic materials, a lettering section formed of spaced, opposed parts for receiving therebetween in row like iormleta ter formers and spacers for the latter, retaining elements for and between which said formers and spacers are arranged, said elements'positioned between said parts and having transverse slots at their outer ends, a molding section for and means carried at the ends of one of the.

parts of said lettering section, abutting'said elements and coacting with the slotsof the latter for centralizing the formers and" spacers be;

tween said parts.

2. In a letteringdevice, a, sectional lettering structure adapted to receive. between the sections thereof letter formers and spacers, a'd' justable retaining elements arranged between the sections of said'structure for said formers and spacers, means extending transversely of ings at the sides and ends thereof-, and means;

extending through said registering openings for detachably connecting said structures together insuperimposed relation. I

3. In a lettering device, a lettering section formed .of a pair of outer and an intermediate fpart positioned in spaced relation to said other parts to provide a pair of parallel spaced spaces disposed lengthwise of said'se'ction for the r eception of letter formers and 'spacers,; said parts at each end having aligning transversely extend ing openings, adjustable retainer elements-positioned in the ends of said spaces for saidfo'rrn .1

ers and spacers andprovided with transverse disposed lengthwise of said section for the reception of letter formers and spacers,.said parts at each end having aligning transversely extending openings, adjustable retainer elements positioned in the ends of said spaces for said formers and spacers and provided with transverse slots registering with said transverse openings, said intermediate part at each end provided with lugs opposing the outer ends of said elements, means extending through the openings of said lugs and threadedly engaging with the latter for adjusting said elements, and means extending through said registering transverse openings and said slots for clamping said parts against said elements, formers and spacers, one

of the walls for each of said spaces having means for connecting said elements, formers and spacers thereto.

'5. In a lettering device, a lettering section formed of a pair of outer and an intermediate part positioned in spaced relation to said other parts to provide a pair of parallel spaced spaces disposed lengthwise of said section for the re-' ception of letter formers and spacers, said parts at each end having aligning transversely extending openings, adjustable retainer elements positioned in the ends of said spaces for said formers and spacers and provided with trans-'- verse slots registering with said transverse openings, said intermediate part at each end provided with a. pair of oppositely disposed aper- I tured flugs opposing the outer ends of said elements, means extending through the openings of said lugs and threadedly engaging with the latterfor adjusting said elements, and means extending through said registering transverse openings and said slots for clamping said parts against'said elements, formers and spacers, said lugs being spaced outwardly. with respect to the ends of said outer parts.

LESLIE W. RICHARDS. ELDRED TARRY, 

